New York Mets owner Steve Cohen’s hopes for a casino near Citi Field continue after reaching a deal on Monday with the city that ended a lawsuit regarding parking for the U.S. Open.
The Tennis Association’s agreement with the city bans or restricts other major events in the area during the tournament each September. Cohen’s agreement keeps that in place for parking in the area, except at Citi Field.
In the wake of that agreement, the Mets owner’s plans for a Hard Rock Metropolitan Park casino and entertainment district apparently still face opposition. Protestors gathered in front of the Queens Public Library on Sunday, demanding that Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and state Sen. John Liu (D) withdraw support for the project.
Protestors Concerned
The project appeared to be one of just three remaining casino plans as the state is expected to award a downstate casino license in the coming months. The $8 billion project won some key approvals, including Liu expressing his support in April.
Along with a Hard Rock casino, plans also call for shops, restaurants, and significant green spaces. However, protestors said Liu and Hochul had “sold out” and argued that the community was opposed to the “irresponsible” plan.
Those opposed to the plan even pointed to a March 2024 op-ed in the New York Daily News from Liu himself, in which he argued that casinos target Asian-American gamblers.
In the piece, Liu argues that casinos use “aggressive ad targeting.” Furthermore, he said the approach leads to “problem gambling, addiction, and other social, economic and health concerns.”
In September, the local Community Advisory Committee approved the casino plan. Protestors argued that the committee’s approval was a foregone conclusion.
“They use their influence on that community board to lobby all the committee board members to vote for it,” protest organizer Jack Hu told QNS.com. “And then what happens is Metropolitan Park comes out and says ‘we have unanimous consent’… And so, our group, our position from the get-go, has been that this is a completely unfair process.”
Cohen Reaches Deal With Mayor
The protest comes just as Cohen reached a deal with Mayor Eric Adams’ administration regarding the U.S. Open.
“We look forward to the advancement of a world-class casino that would create thousands of union-paying jobs, billions of dollars in economic impact, and improvements to local communities,” City Hall spokesperson Liz Garcia told the New York Post.
The Tennis Association has a 99-year lease of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center through 2092. Representatives with the group said the city added the “required language” to its deal to address the association’s concerns.
